Portable electrical outlet and lighting assembly



N. H. HANSON June 2, 1964 PORTABLE ELECTRICAL. OUTLET AND LIGHTING ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

JI'I'OF/K'fl June 2, 1964 N. H. HANSON 3,135,469

PORTABLE ELECTRICAL OUTLET AND LIGHTING ASSEMBLY Filed April 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Will 15 1914/1690 United States Patent 3,135,469 PORTABLE ELECTRICAL GUTLET AND LIGHTING ASSEMBLY Neil H. Hanson, 1403Lewis, Des Moines, Iowa Filed Apr. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 184,374 3 Claims. (Cl. 2402) This invention relates to a unitized portable power outlet means and more particularly to a detachable unit providing light, electric power outlets, and air under pressure outlets.

Most work benches, work tables and line assembly work require artificial light, electric power current and a source of pneumatic pressure. Obviously, the artificial lightis to provide visibility when needed, the electric power to tumor heat various tools, and the pneumatic pressure to provide air blasts, power to actuate pneumatic tools and like. Herebefore, these services have been separated and their installation has been of a permanent nature. Such an arrangement is highly objectionable for several reasons; Firstly, the multi-service positions are most unhandy for the various workmen. Secondly, many of the outlets and/or controls are not readily visible. Thirdly, and perhaps most important, the removal and reinstallation of the various services into another room or another building is most difficult. Such a change of these services is costly, sometimes impossible, and time consuming.

Therefore, one of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a single, portable detachable unit that serves as an outlet for light, electric power, and compressed fluid.

More specifically, the object or" this invention is to provide a unit adapted to bedetachably suspended from a ceiling that has illumination electricity outlets, anda compressed air outlet.

Still further objects of my invention are to providea unit providing light, electricity, and pressure fluid that is economical in manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and otherobjects will be apparentto those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. '1 is a perspective view of my unitized power'and lightmeans in use; V

tl-FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the unit without top cover;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device with sections cut away to more fully illustrate its construction;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the device;

FIG. 5 is an illustrative cross-sectional view of the housing; and

FIG. 6is a'schematic'drawing of the electrical circuitry employed in the portable'power' outlet means.

In these drawings I have" used the numeral 10 to designate the ceiling-of a room or like. The numeral ll designate-s an elongated housing having a longitudinal center bottom opening area 12, which may be enclosed by a transparent window 13. Mounted in the housing and above the opening area 12 is an incandescent lamp means 15. The housing in cross section is similar to that of "an inverted U-channel and therefore at each side of the center bottom area 12 is an elongated compartment. These two side compartments are designated by thenumerals 16 and 17, respectively. In one end area of the housing there may be a control compartment 19 closable at the bottom of the housing by a removable door or like 20. The electrical socket outlets are located at the bottom 3,135,469 Patented June 2, 1964 of each of the compartments 16 and 17 and are designated by the numerals 21 and 21A. By being at each side of the lighting means, they are easily seen for plugging in the terminals of an electric tool 22, as shown in FIG. 1. These electrical outlets 21 and 21A may carry one or more voltages. Normally, the current supplied Will be and 220 volts as through lead line 21B to low voltage outlets 21 and through cable 21C to the high voltage outletsZlA. Also, in the bottom of each of the compartments 16 and 17 are air pressure outlets 23 for connection with a pneumatic tool 25. Electric inlet and out-let connections 26 and 27 extend. into the housing 11 and are suitably electrically connected to the electric outlets and lamp or lamps 15 through terminal blocks 14 or like. Electric switches or combination circuit breaker switches 29, 30 and 31 are imposed in the electric circuits to control the various needs such as shown in FIG. 6 where switches 36) and 31 control the power to the low and high voltage sockets respectively. Four additional circuit breaker switches may be added for 110 and 220 volt or other D.-C. branch circuit protection. Other voltages and cycles can be either added to or exchanged for the above power to meet customer needs without changing the intent .of the patent scope. A separate switch 18 with a fuse is installed in a lead line 18A for thelighting circuit only. These switches should be on the lower side of the housing 11 and handy for manual actuation. The lighting means in the center bottom of the housing is capable of illuminating the switch handles, the electric socket outlets and the air pressure fixtures. Any necessary members may be in the control compartment 19 such as circuit breakers, fuses, starters, and'like.

As herebefore indicated, I have placed in one unit housing, alighting mean-s, electricity outlet means, and an air pressure outlet means. Each service is independent of the other and is selective. The entire unit is portable and transportable. It is adapted to be detachably suspended from a support by any suitable means such as chain or cable means32. The support may be a roof beam, ceiling or like. Thus, my unitiied device may be easily and quicklymoved from room to room, or even from building to building. To install, it is merely necessary to suspend the unit over a work bench 33 or like, and connect the electric lead lines 34 and/or 35 to terminal blocks 14 and pneumatic conduit 36- to main 28.

An ear hook 37 may be provided at each upper corner of the housing for the connection of the chains or like. By removing cover plate 24 it is possible to bolt several units together for continuous runs from one pneumatic drop 36 and/ or electric drops 26 and 27 up to thelir nit of the pneumatic pipe capacity or circuit breaker capacity. The units can be electrically interconnected by means of connections to terminal blocks 14. Extensions to continue 'thepneumatic main 28 can be accomplished by adding unions to either or both ends of the main 28 and running the pipe from unit to unit through the space,

left in the gusset behind cover plate 24. I

Some changes. may be made inithe construction anid arrangement of my unitized 'portabl'e'power' ouuetmafis without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my electrical outlet and lighting a transparent Window provided in said opening to close said housing;

' an incandescent lamp mounted in the opening and above the transparent window; a plurality of electrical outlets provided longitudinally along each of said compartments, said outlets each facing downwardly through the bottom'walls of said compartments;

a control compartment provided in said housing at one end thereof between said elongated compartments and outwardly of said incandescent lamp towards the adjacent end of said housin'g, a door provided in said housing, said door provided in said control compartment to close said control compartment;

7 an electrical cable adapted to be detachably connected to a source of electrical energy and extending into said control compartment;

I a separate electrical lead line extending from said electrical cable in said control compartment to said incandescent lamp and to said plurality of electrical outlets;

a switch in said control compartment for each of said lead lines, each of said switches being exposed through said door to be accessible for manual operation; and hanger means provided at each end of said housing and adapted to be detachably secured to the ceiling of a workroom. 2. In a portable unitized electrical outlet. and lighting assembly, comprising, 7

an elongated housing having a longitudinal center bottom opening, said housing having in cross section the shape of an inverted U-channel forming along each side of said opening an elongated compartment; a transparent window provided in said opening to close said housing; an incandescent lamp mounted in the opening and above the transparent window;

, .a'plurality of pairs of electrical outlets provided longi- I an electrical cable adapted to be detachably connected to a low voltage source of electrical energy and extending into said control compartment;

a separate electrical lead line extending from said electrical cable in said control compartment to said incandescent lamp and toone outlet in each pair of electrical outlets;

a second electrical cable detachably connected to 'a high voltage source of electrical energy and extending into said control compartment, a third lead line, said third lead line connecting said second electrical cable to the other outlet in each of said pairs of outlets; a switch in said control compartment for each of said lead lines, each or said switches being exposed through said door to be accessible for manual operation; and I I hanger means provided at each end of said housing and adapted to be detachably secured to the ceiling of a work room. a 3. In a portable unitized electrical outlet and-lighting assembly, comprising, 7

an elongated housing having a longitudinal center bottom opening, said housing having in cross section the shape of an inverted U-channel forming along each side of said opening an elongated compartment;

a transparent window provided in said opening to close said housing; 7

an'incandescent lamp'mounted in the opening and above the transparent window;

a plurality of pairs of electrical outlets provided longitudinally along one of said compartments, said outlets each being exposed downwardly through the bottom walls of said compartment;

a control compartment provided in said housing at one end thereof between said elongated compartments and outwardly of said incandescent lamplitowards the adjacent end of said housing, a door providedin said housing, said door provided in said control compartment to close said control compartment;

an electrical cable adapted to be detachably connected to a lowvoltage source of electrical energy and extending into said control compartment;

a separate electrical lead line extending from said electrical cable in said control compartment to said incandescent lamp and to one outlet in each pair of' electrical outlets; t e I a second electrical cable detachably connected to a high voltage source of electrical energy and extending into said control compartment, a third lead line, said third lead line connecting said second 618C. trical cable to the other outlet in each of said pairs of outlets;

a switch in said control compartment for each of said lead lines, each of said switches being exposed through said door to be'accessible form'anual oporation;

a compressed air conduit connected to said housing and adapted to be detachabl-y connected to a compressed air source; compressed air outlets provided in'spaced relationship along the length of eachof said elongated compartments, and each of said outlets being exposed through the bottom walls of said compartments and adapted to be engaged by air operated tools; and

hanger means provided at each end of said housing and adapted to be'detachably secured to'the ceiling v of a work room.

References Cite-d in the tile of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS;

2,578,190 2,619,584 Hathaway Nov. 25,1952 2,678,372 Salton May 11,1954

2,998,508" Bobrick Aug. 29, 1961 

1. IN A PORTABLE UNITIZED ELECTRICAL OUTLET AND LIGHTING ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED HOUSING HAVING A LONGITUDINAL CENTER BOTTOM OPENING, SAID HOUSING HAVING IN CROSS SECTION THE SHAPE OF AN INVERTED U-CHANNEL FORMING ALONG EACH SIDE OF SAID OPENING AN ELONGATED COMPARTMENT; A TRANSPARENT WINDOW PROVIDED IN SAID OPENING TO CLOSE SAID HOUSING; AN INCANDESCANT LAMP MOUNTED IN THE OPENING AND ABOVE THE TRANSPARENT WINDOW; A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL OUTLETS PROVIDED LONGITUDINALLY ALONG EACH OF SAID COMPARTMENTS, SAID OUTLETS EACH FACING DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE BOTTOM WALLS OF SAID COMPARTMENTS; A CONTROL COMPARTMENT PROVIDED IN SAID HOUSING AT ONE END THEREOF BETWEEN SAID ELONGATED COMPARTMENTS AND OUTWARDLY OF SAID INCANDESCENT LAMP TOWARDS THE ADJACENT END OF SAID HOUSING, A DOOR PROVIDED IN SAID HOUSING, SAID DOOR PROVIDED IN SAID CONTROL COMPARTMENT TO CLOSE SAID CONTROL COMPARTMENT; AN ELECTRICAL CABLE ADAPTED TO BE DETACHABLY CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY AND EXTENDING INTO SAID CONTROL COMPARTMENT; A SEPARATE ELECTRICAL LEAD LINE EXTENDING FROM SAID ELECTRICAL CABLE IN SAID CONTROL COMPARTMENT TO SAID INCANDESCENT LAMP AND TO SAID PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL OUTLETS; A SWITCH IN SAID CONTROL COMPARTMENT FOR EACH OF SAID LEAD LINES, EACH OF SAID SWITCHES BEING EXPOSED THROUGH SAID DOOR TO BE ACCESSIBLE FOR MANUAL OPERATION; AND HANGER MEANS PROVIDED AT EACH END OF SAID HOUSING AND ADAPTED TO BE DETACHABLY SECURED TO THE CEILING OF A WORK ROOM. 